Johnsonia pubescens

Johnsonia pubescens, commonly called the pipe lily, is a grass-like plant in the family Asphodelaceae, subfamily Hemerocallidoideae,[1] endemic to the south-west of Western Australia. As with others in the genus, it is distinguished by its minute flowers which are on the end of a spike and hidden by large, overlapping, papery bracts.

Johnsonia pubescens
In Lesueur National Park, Western Australia
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asphodelaceae
Subfamily: Hemerocallidoideae
Genus: Johnsonia
Species:
J. pubescens
Binomial name
Johnsonia pubescens

Description

Johnsonia pubescens is a rhizomatous, tufted, perennial herb with grass-like leaves which all emerge from the base of the plant. The leaves are 6.3–28 centimetres (2.5–11.0 in) long and 1–3 centimetres (0.39–1.18 in) wide. The bases of the leaves surround the stem. The flower spike is leafless, shorter than the leaves, with large, dry overlapping bracts surrounding minute flowers. The bracts are white, or white with a central pink stripe, or flushed pink. The whole plant is covered with short, soft hairs.[2]

Taxonomy and naming

Johnsonia pubescens was first described in 1840 by John Lindley in "A Sketch of the Vegetation of the Swan River Colony".[3] He mentions, "Of Johnsonia, with its hop-like heads, there are two very pretty species, namely J. hirta ...and J. pubescens, both much smaller than the J. lupulina of the South coast." The specific epithet pubescens means "hairy".[4]

There are two subspecies:

  • J. pubescens Lindl. subsp. pubescens[5]
  • J. pubescens subsp. cygnorum (Keighery)[6]

Distribution and habitat

This species occurs between Eneabba and Serpentine in the Avon Wheatbelt, Geraldton Sandplains, Jarrah Forest and Swan Coastal Plain biogeographic regions of Western Australia. It grows in white, grey, yellow or lateritic sand or limestone[7] on flats, wet sites, coastal areas and roadsides.[8]

Uses

Johnsonia pubescens responds well to cultivation. It can be propagated from seed and grows in full sun and most soils provided reasonable moisture is available.[9]

References
  1. Stevens, P.F. (2001 onwards). "Hemerocallidoideae". Angiosperm Phylogeny Website. Retrieved 2016-06-10.
  2. Keighery, Greg J. "Johnsonia pubescens Lindl". Australian national botanic gardens - flora online. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  3. "Johnsonia pubescens Lindl". APNI. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
  4. Stearn, W.T. (2004). Botanical Latin (4th [p/b] ed.). Portland, Oregon: Timber Press. ISBN 978-0-7153-1643-6. p. 475
  5. "Johnsonia pubescens Lindl. subsp. pubescens Lindl". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  6. "Johnsonia pubescens subsp. cygnorum Keighery Lindl". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  7. Paczkowska, Grazyna; Chapman, Alex R. (2000). The Western Australian flora : a descriptive catalogue. Perth: Wildflower Society of Western Australia. p. 32. ISBN 0646402439.
  8. "Johnsonia pubescens Lindl". FloraBase. Western Australian Government Department of Parks and Wildlife.
  9. Wrigley, John W.; Fagg, Murray (1983). Australian native plants : a manual for their propagation, cultivation and use in landscaping (2nd ed.). Sydney: Collins. p. 120. ISBN 0002165759.

External sources
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